Writing this post a week late. Most of what I remember from the week was the Pride parade, at which I got heat stroke, but other than that, spending the day with friends was a great time. Alyssa popped in to NYC to say hello so it was nice to chat with her and her mom for the better part of a day. Martin Awano and I did a photo adventure which was fun. And yea, I should definitely spend more time on these.
First week in New York has been a great time for some much needed relaxation and reflection. I don’t really want to make this blog a long, essay-style endeavor – I don’t want to write that and nobody wants to read that – so instead, for the foreseeable future I will update the blog on an irregular basis using a more ~bullet points~ approach. I’ll be writing down whatever’s been on my mind and adding pictures (if I’ve taken any that week or day or whatever). Maybe the pictures will help me understand what I’ve been thinking about or feeling, or maybe they’ll just look nice.
I. UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
This was maybe my favorite year at school so far. I made such incredible friends, joined an a cappella group, worked as photo editor of the Chicago Maroon, went on some wild outdoor adventures, experimented photographically with world renowned photographer Joel Snyder, wrote music with people way more talented than me, experienced the coldest temperatures I probably ever will, found a second home in an abandoned church, danced on stage with Waka Flocka, and managed to finish it off academically intact. But I’ve only got one more year left. I’m scared shitless. I’m scared that next year may not be as fun now that lots of my friends have graduated, scared that when I graduate my friends won’t really care all that much, scared that I won’t have the time to take advantage of everything Uchicago has to offer, and scared that I won’t know what to do with myself after its all done. But I guess that’s a problem for future me.
II. PHOTOGRAPHY
I’ve been doing a ton of photography. I’ve probably annoyed everyone on social media with my posts and everyone in real life with my insistence on bringing a camera with me everywhere I go. There are lots of reasons I’ve sort of fallen for photography as of late. Maybe the simplest explanation is that the pictures help me remember all the things I never want to forget. Photography’s connection to memory and perceived objectivity is fascinating and offers endless avenues for discussion and contemplation. I’ve also become rather interested in photojournalism. I’ll save that topic for some other time, but I really see myself going into it as a career if I’m lucky enough to succeed. I think its also pretty evident that I’ve become obsessed with film photography in particular. I love everything about it from the colors to the limits it puts on the photographer to the sense of generational connectivity it gives me when I shoot it. It’s all just so great.
And while photography has become one of my most rewarding activities, I still find myself doubting my abilities. I am always questioning whether anyone with a similar camera could’ve taken the same picture or if I somehow put myself and my vision into the photograph. I think I’ve definitely improved, but I’m not sure if I’ve improved enough to really even consider myself a photographer yet.
III. HEALTH
I started to eat right and exercise again, so that’s good. I feel loads better than I have the past few months and thats from just over a week of living like a functioning adult. I’ve got a ways to go to actually being healthy, but it’s good to know and feel like I’m on the right track.
IV. WORK
Started work at Anthology Film Archive today. I was definitely skeptical of the whole situation before I got there, it wasn't exactly my first choice for the summer, but I had a hell of time meeting the staff, the archive dog Lulu, and walking around the city running errands. Hopefully all the fun continues, and maybe they’ll let me do a photo series on the place eventually.